Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-01-06
BIRD MIGRATION.
Interesting Points Concerning the Movements
0fthe Feathered Songsters,

0fthe Feathered Songsters,
In paper on the subject of BIRD Mi
grafton" in the st. James Gazette, based
on the seventh report of the committee
on migration appointed by the British
association, the writer states that on the
east coast, as though following some long
lost land line, the birds regularly take the
North sea along we'll defined tracks. The
autumn immigrants fly from east to west
and northwest, their return in spring be-
ing conducted over exactly the same
lines, but of course in contrary direc-
ton. It will be noticed that the first
main flight occurs regularly about the
middle of October, add the second just as
regularly month later 1t is pointed
out in the report, that with many excep-
tions, the earlier arrival refer to the
young birds. To return TO the details of
the year. Among the more interesting
part of the reports Is the record of oc
currences of rare and occasional vIsi-
| tants. This year there are few of either.
| Chiefest among these are the Arctic blue
throat or desert chat at Spurn; the black
bellied dipper in Lincolnshire; the wood
chat, shrike, serin finch, and spoonful in
Norfolk, and the spotted eagle in North
cumberland. During the spring migra-
ton the swallow arrived at Spurn on the
Sth of April; the swift on the goth of
April Gan exceptionally early date; the
cuckoo on the Sth of April, and the sea
blue birds of March, the wheat-ears, at
the Farnes on the 22d of February. The
bird movements along the west coast of
England still continue TO puzzle natural
lists. 1t is we'll known that many of the
/ migratory birds from northern Europe,
| from Iceland and Greenland and the
/ Faroes pass down the west coast of
! Scotland; yet beyond this they leave no
trace along the northwest coast
of England proper. Mr.. Clark, who
/ has charge of this section, points now, as
/ his predecessor did, to the great gap in
| the return from Cumberland and West
moreland and down to North Wales. 1t
/ is suggested that, from some unknown
cause the migratory birds leave the Cum
! brian coast, striking across to the Isle of
! Man, and thence returning to Wales.
] This, of course, leaves out of account
/ those birds which go on to Ireland. Why
this fairly sheltered and food-abounding
strip of coast line is passed over is diff
cult to understand. There are few birds,
| indeed (if any,, into the life history of
which migration does not enter. And as
! the movements of what are generally
| termed partially resident species"-such
as the redbreast hedge sparrow, Wren,
greenfnch, sparrow, bullhnch, yellowham-
mer, and others continued to be reported,
much light may in future years be thrown
upon these interesting species. Ga the
west coast this year the following rare
| forms we're observed; Black redstart,
white wagtail, gadwall, red-necked and
I gray phalaropes, ruff, black tern, glucus
/ gull and Leach's petrol; while the alb
sence is reported of the woodcock, gold
crest and short-eared owl. This, as al
| ready remarked, can not be written of
! the woodcock during the present year, as
/ the birds have appeared here, as they did
| last year on the coast, in almost unpre-
cedented numbers. The general charac-
/ teri5tics of the bird movements of 1883
may be set down as follows: The migra-
tioH was compressed, the brushes" being
great numerically, but ''short and sharp
1 In spring the thrush family showed in
I quantity, feldfares being esq eciGlly num-
\ erous. The prevailing winds were easterly
| and southeasterly, these being continuous,
\ In autumn the general results were some
what similar. Prior to the middle OF
/ October the migratory waves were but
slight at any of the stations. From then,
however, to the middle Of November great
rushes took place. A remarkable incident
was noted at the Isle of Man in November.
This was a cross migration of woodcocks.
Birds we're passing in directly opposite
directions flights being equally favor
able, and the migrants striking the lights
on the opposite sides of the lantern. The
committee have now collected a vast mass
of materials so that already they are able
to draw fairly definite conclusions as to
the lines of flight of the migratory birds
} I